Ujet electric scooter cruises cities on hubless wheels and carbon nanotube tires. The Ujet is just one in a long, ever-growing line of folding scooters designed for nimble urban mobility.
But it's one that absolutely stands out from the pack. Ujet's description of a sculptural, asymmetrical frame is spot on, especially up front. The single-sided fork shows a twisted form and crisp edges that appear crafted for visual impact more than traditional functionality. Similarly, the rear wheel is attached on just one side. The asymmetrical construction of the mixed magnesium alloy and carbon fiber frame is helped along by the 14-in hubless wheels, which are really the heart and soul of the Ujet. Review: Bike-boosting Copenhagen Wheel finally hits the streets. It was back in 2009 that we first heard about the Copenhagen Wheel.
Developed by MIT's SENSEable City team in consultation with the City of Copenhagen, it was a motor-equipped rear bicycle wheel that could turn an existing human-powered bicycle into an e-bike. The years since saw some production delays, but as of this April it finally became commercially available. We recently tried the wheel out for ourselves, and think it was worth the wait.
The US version of the Copenhagen Wheel (which is the one that we got) has a 350-watt motor powered by a 48V/279Wh lithium-ion battery, which takes four hours to charge. That motor kicks in whenever you pedal, adding a proportional amount of electrical assistance – a top motor-assisted speed of 20 mph (32 km/h) is possible, and there is no throttle-only mode. Smart packaging keeps the Air-33 folding eBike small and light. At the core of the Air-33 is a 36V, 8Ah lithium-ion battery offering 25 mi (40 km) of range in the base model, and a 10 Ah Panasonic unit good for 35 mi (52 km) in the Air-33 Plus.
The slim battery is integrated into the bike's frame, where it locks into place with a key. When it's dead, owners are able to take it out and slot another one in, or charge it up in just two hours using a fast charger. In spite of the battery squeezed into the top tube, the bike is completely weatherproof. As is the case with most eBikes, there are a few different riding modes on offer. Along with unassisted pedaling, there's a hybrid setting that gives riders a bit of gentle electric assistance when they pedal. When it comes time to pack the bike up, it folds in the middle of the frame. Along with its compact size, the Air-33 should be relatively easy to carry thanks to its light weight. On top of the base pledges, there are a few options on the list.
Wacky multi-motor e-bike concept drops and slides into shape. Though some cyclists don't necessarily need or like electric-assisted bikes, the bicycle world has grown quite accustomed to the idea of pedals mixing with electric motors.
German e-drive manufacturer Brose is hoping to expand that relationship into a more open marriage of multiple motors per bike. Its Visionbike concept, possibly the wildest looking bike at the recent Eurobike 2016 show, uses several motorized systems to slide and shift into different riding and parking profiles. An established automotive supplier for more than a century, Brose has transitioned some of its expertise over to the world of e-bikes in recent years. Klever X brings an alternative look to the e-bike market. Never one to be satisfied with the basic diamond frame, Germany's Klever Mobility has released what could be called its most striking electric bike design yet at Eurobike 2016.
The all-new rear-motored X series houses its battery and some open air in a distinctive pentagonal frame designed to accommodate both lads and lasses. It comes in several variants, including a 600-watt "Speed" version that scoots along at up to 28 mph (45 km/h). The last time we checked in with Klever at Eurobike 2013, it was busy taking home awards for bikes like the S25 and B25.
While still quite distinctive, those low-slung designs might scare off some sensitive male riders, given their resemblance to traditional step-through women's frames. The new X shouldn't suffer from any such image problems. Best electric mid-drive adds serious muscle and speed to existing bicycles. In addition to the hordes of e-bikes out there, the market has plenty of aftermarket kits designed to turn standard bicycles into electric-assist machines: electrified wheels like the Centinel and FlyKly, friction drives like the ConoDrive and Rubbee 2.0, and mid-drives like the Bimoz.
With the exception of the rare powerhouse, like the 3,400-watt EGO-kit, these add-ons tend to use modestly powered motors for speeds between 15 and 20 mph (24 and 32 km/h) or so. The new mid-mounted Bikee Best kit packs more power potential and torque than average, aiming for better hill climbing capability and speeds up to 30 mph (48 km/h). Bikee Bike founders, brothers Luca and Matteo Spaggiari, hail from Italy's "Motor Valley," home to such names as Ferrari, Lamborghini and Pagani. It's no wonder the two grew up with a healthy love for all types of motor power and went on to individual careers working around motors and vehicles in various parts of the world. Source: Bikee. Tilting e-quad gets tilting trike stablemate. E-bikes are a great alternative to a commute by car, and are not quite the lazy cycling option some folks believe them to be.
But if you want a little more stability combined with a tight turning circle, Poland's Jack Skopinski has built an electric-assist tricycle that makes use of the same exposed tilting mechanism as his wonderfully industrial-looking EV4 quad bike. Skopinski says that his EV4 tricycle is designed for "sensational cornering in the urban jungle," but that the tilting mechanism and suspension system also makes it a good fit for off-road adventures. The 150 cm long, 60 cm wide and 110 cm in height (59 x 23.6 x 43.3 in) e-trike has a 36 V, 13 Ah in-frame battery pack and a 250 W brushless electric motor for a pedal-assist range of up to 80 km (50 miles) and 25 km/h (16 mph) top speed. The battery takes about 4 hours to charge. The EV4 trike tips the scales at 35 kg (77 lb), including the battery, and is built to order for €2,000 (about US$2,200). New e-bike combines classic, leather-and-wood style with hybrid electric drive. There are interesting electric bikes popping up nearly every day, but arguably the most interesting are the ones that provide electric power without looking like two-wheeled battery packs or design student projects.
We're thinking light, unassuming bikes like the Freygeist or Maxwell EP0. The all-new Italian-designed, Swiss-built e-bike from Velocipede Fogliaverde takes the idea of a classically styled e-bike even further, featuring a low-profile design dressed up with leather, wood and even rust. "Velocipede Fogliaverde" (Italian for "green leaf velocipede") has to be one of the most fun company names we've seen in years - it just rolls off the tongue, though we may very well be mispronouncing it terribly. Its bikes also look pretty fun to ride, especially if you're the type that likes to attract a little attention, which the VF (that name isn't as fun to write) models do instantly with their classic, carefully accessorized looks.
Source: Velocipede Fogliaverde. Best electric mid-drive adds serious muscle and speed to existing bicycles. In addition to the hordes of e-bikes out there, the market has plenty of aftermarket kits designed to turn standard bicycles into electric-assist machines: electrified wheels like the Centinel and FlyKly, friction drives like the ConoDrive and Rubbee 2.0, and mid-drives like the Bimoz.
With the exception of the rare powerhouse, like the 3,400-watt EGO-kit, these add-ons tend to use modestly powered motors for speeds between 15 and 20 mph (24 and 32 km/h) or so. The new mid-mounted Bikee Best kit packs more power potential and torque than average, aiming for better hill climbing capability and speeds up to 30 mph (48 km/h). Bikee Bike founders, brothers Luca and Matteo Spaggiari, hail from Italy's "Motor Valley," home to such names as Ferrari, Lamborghini and Pagani. It's no wonder the two grew up with a healthy love for all types of motor power and went on to individual careers working around motors and vehicles in various parts of the world. Carbon GT Review: Polished electric skateboard eats rough terrain for breakfast. When we road tested Evolve's Carbon Series electric skateboard last year we were pretty reluctant to hand it back.
Responsive, fast, and whole lot of fun to burn around on, it quickly became the company's hottest seller. So what happens when you take an already killer design and up the power by around 10 times? Shimano gives mountain bikers a boost with STePS MTB. eBikes might be good for commuters who don't want to arrive at work trailing a river of sweat, but the technology can also provide a helping hand – or foot – to cyclists who want to get down and dirty. Shimano has recognized this with the new STePS MTB, a rugged eBike motor designed for off-road performance. Just like the STePS system it launched last year, Shimano's MTB motor is a pedal assist system that augments the power put into the pedals by the rider.
Once you reach a certain speed, the assistance cuts out. That means the electric assistance isn't designed to create a new generation of rider hitting incredible speeds on mountain bike trails. Instead, it's designed to give a gentle boost to enthusiasts who aren't quite in peak physical condition. Bike motor keeps things small and simple. A lot of people want an electric boost while they're cycling, but don't want to replace their perfectly-good existing bicycle with a costly new e-bike. That's why several types of add-on motors exist. One of the latest, the Swiss-made bimoz, is not only a lot less obtrusive than most, but at 1.97 kg (4.3 lb) including battery, it's also claimed to be one of the lightest. Propella e-bikes look casual and power up via throttle or pedal assist. As we see each year at events like the North American Handmade Bicycle Show and Eurobike, bicycle designers will experiment with just about any style of frame.
But they always seems to come back to the tried-and-true classic – the diamond frame. Perhaps, it's no wonder, then, that the e-bike industry is following suit. Lightweight Freygeist e-bike looks and lifts more like a regular bike. Some are louder than others, but e-bikes are usually easy to spot. Evidence like a battery pack sticking up off the down tube, a thick, rectangular top tube or a large motor on the wheel is hard to miss. German startup Freygeist believes that the electric bike should look and feel more like the classic pedal bike. Its new Classic pedelec is virtually indistinguishable as an electric thanks to cleanly integrated hardware and a 26.5-lb (12 kg) curb weight. Flyer TX-Series brings full suspension to trekking e-bikes. We’ve seen electric full-suspension mountain bikes before, and we’ve also seen electric trekking bikes.
Flyer’s new TX-Series, however, is something you don’t come across too often – an electric full-suspension trekking bike. Bionicon's e-ram mountain bike motor is light and low-profile. While hub motors may be quite common on commuter e-bikes, they’re not so popular on full-suspension electric mountain bikes. That’s because they add unsprung weight, which nobody wants. Bolt M-1 finds a home between electric motorcycle, moped and bicycle. Part electric bicycle, part motorcycle and part moped, the Bolt M-1 is a capable, two-wheeled machine engineered for urban commuting.
The fully electric bike wears light motorcycle styling and can put out up to 5,500 watts for speeds up to 40 mph (64 km/h). HNF Heisenberg develops premium electric mountain bike with BMW i tech. Bultaco puts its motorcycle know-how into a 2,000-watt electric bike. When Spanish motorcycle manufacturer Bultaco announced its return to the market last year, we were expecting some new electric motorbikes. Faraday Porteur e-bike hits the market.
Babel Bike is claimed to be the safest bicycle ever built. While inclement weather and exertion are certainly factors, one of the big reasons that many people don't commute by bike is the fear of getting hit by cars. Evelo Omni Wheel turns almost any bike into an electric bike. Whether you cycle to work or just for pleasure, there are no doubt times when a little help wouldn't go amiss. The Evelo Omni Wheel can provide just that assistance, replacing the front wheel of most bikes to give an electrified power boost. The Omni Wheel is one of a number of recently announced powered wheels for non-electric bicycles, but Evelo co-founder Boris Mordkovich believes it could be the first to market. "Since we do not rely on crowdsourcing to fund the development and production, we are able to better control our timelines and meet the delivery commitments," Mordkovich tells Gizmag.
Ulock jumps into the wireless bike lock marketplace. Over the past couple of years, we've heard about two different bicycle U-locks – the Skylock and the BitLock – that can be unlocked via the user's smartphone. A2B launches Entz e-bike with frame-integrated motor and gearless shifting. Modular Virtus e-drive transforms a regular bike into an e-bike and back again. Barak brings the voltage to any bike. Self-contained powered Copenhagen Wheel hits the market – at last. Electric Bike Graveyard. Alter e-bike uses a hydrogen fuel cell to expand range. FlyKly aims to turn almost any bike into an electric motor-powered ride. Stigo electric scooter is claimed to be the fastest folder in town. Ebike-base.de - Die Elektrofahrrad - Marktübersicht: Test drives. Sphyke C3N secures bike components with mini combination locks. Stigo electric scooter is claimed to be the fastest folder in town.
Klever Mobility continues award-winning form at Eurobike 2013. Home - Klever Mobility. Neuer Pedelec Mittelmotor Nachrüstsatz von Schachner - Pedelecs und E-Bikes. Kwiggle Bike claims world’s most compact folding bike crown. Bigfish Line+ E-bike folds down in 10 seconds.